King Lear, Starring Ian McKellen

Interview with Sir Ian McKellen on playing King Lear

Sir Ian McKellen discusses how Trevor Nunn’s set design seeks to preserve the original intention of Shakespeare, performing Shakespeare for the camera, the task of performing King Lear’s transformation from King into madman, the significance of Lear’s relationship with the gods, and how playing Lear, the “Everest” of Shakespeare, often is considered the summation of an actor’s career.